"CLANG"
               It is the signal for Truck No. 12 at 1435 North Main street that there is a fire somewhere in the district.
    The big doors of the firehouse swing back.  Before they are fully open, there bounces through them a tawny bundle of excitement.
    "Yip!  Yip!  Yip!  Stop that traffic.  Bow!  Wow!  Pull over to the side there, you sap!  Wow!  Wow!  Yip!  Look out everybody;  Truck No. 12 is going to a fire !  Look ow-ow-ow----!
    Truck No. 12 roars through the opened doors, siren shrieking.  As it turns to right or left, the barking bundle hurls itself recklessly for the rear step. Capable hands catch it in mid-air.   Truck Company 12 is on its way, with Red, expert fire-dog, mascot and traffic cop on the job as usual.
    Warning traffic before Truck Company No. 12 reaches the street is just one of "Reds" many accomplishments, according to the men of his company.  He is also a first-class ladder climber, and, on at least one occasion, has shone as a life-saver.  In fact, they declare, the only duty of a fireman that Red hasn't mastered so far is playing checkers.
    Red, who is predominantly Airedale, was rescued, a month-old puppy, by Fireman Everett G. Parrish of No. 12, in a barn blaze at Marchessault and Juan streets two years ago.  He has lived at the fire house since, and regards himself as indispensable to its activities.
    According to the firemen, the dog knows the signal for every important box in the district, and is often on his way to the street before the big apparatus gong sounds.  He goes seriously about his business of stopping traffic and frequently calls the attention of some motorist to the impeding run of apparatus.